LABOUR ITEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1831, 5 August 1895, Page 3

LABOUR ITEMS.

Pir Electmo Telegraph— Copyright

Per Press Association,

Melbourne, August 3.

In the Assembly the Labour Members raised the question of the new produce export contracts, and urged the Government not to entertain the tender of the P. and O. Company while they continued to employ cheap black labour. The farmers are opposed to having pro-

duce carried by blacks, to the exclusion of whites. The Premier promised to give the matter careful consideration before tenders are accepted.

A departmental report on the village settlements states that during their two years' existence £36,000 have been expended m establishing and developing the State's operations. The colonies on the individual system had been fairly successful, but very few of those formed by societies or associations worked harmoniously. Many had been disbanded, while those still m existence are m almost every case working on individual lines. The causes which led to the non-success of settlements are that large numbers are totally unfitted for the life, the land is poor, and m some cases whert it is good, there is no hope of outside labour or of a market for produce. f ßy Telegraph. ) CHRISTCHURCH, Augusts The number of men employed by the city authorities and paid out of the winter work fund is 150. The money m hand will last for only about another fortnight, and subscriptions to the fund have practically ceased. A number of men discharged from the works waited

on the agent of the Labour Bureau and asked that employment might be found for them. The agent has communicated with the Government.

Mounted-Constable Crawford, as the local agent of the Labour Bureau has received a copy of a circular from the Labour Department, which reads as follows : — " The Government desires that more strict regulations should govern men on the co-operative works m regard to the support they give to their wives and families. Complaints have been made, apparently with reason m many cases, that men making good earnings leave their families to be supported by charitable institutions for the future, therefore, please consider it as an instruction not to be departed from, that any married man placed on co-operative j works is to sign one of the accompany- 1 ing orders, by which his half pay is to be transmitted to his wife or family. Any married man now employed will be required, on completion of his present contract, to sign the said order ; and if he refuses to do so, no further work is to be given him. Arrangements will be mado with the Crown Lands and Public Works Department for the half-pay to be forwarded," The " order " referred to m the circular is a form, to be signed by the workman, signifying his consent to the Government retaining half his pay, to be *' paid over to his wife and family as the Government think fit," or otherwise applied for the support of his wife. A meeting of the unemployed committee was held on Friday afternoon last m the Town Board Office, Temuka. to arrange matters m relation to relief works. The Rev. T. Farley, chairman, presided. An offer was received from the Caledonion Society of £20, conditionally that it be spent on a cinder track m the park, the track to be guaranteed ; if the committee did not agree to those terms £5 to be given to the funds without conditions. The committee decided to take the offer of £5 without conditions, the other £15, if given by the society, to be spent m finding material for the track. It was resolved that the ground be dug with the spade, and the rate of wages be 4s per day, and 5s for overseer. Mr Archer kindly consented to superintend the work. It was also resolved to call applications for work, to be m on Tuesday next, at noon, when the committee meet to make the selection.